Surprise

In the western district of the Imperial Capital, Leian was completely stunned the moment he knocked open the villa's courtyard gate.

In the modest courtyard, a thick carpet had been laid out temporarily, and on it, two chubby-cheeked toddlers were rolling around and playing.

The owners of the villa, Barry and his wife, were sitting nearby soaking up the sun; one was focused on a book, while the other watched the children with eyes full of doting affection. It was the maid, Aili, who had opened the gate for Leian.

"Ah, Young Master Leian, you're back!"

Seeing Leian, Aili immediately called out in pleasant surprise.

Two years had passed, and Aili had grown a bit taller, her figure becoming more graceful and curvaceous. Perhaps due to practicing battle qi, she carried a hint of heroic spirit about her.

"Leian is back?"

In the courtyard, hearing the shout, Barry and his wife both stood up and walked toward the gate.

Two years later, Barry and Annie hadn't changed much; in fact, Annie even looked a little younger.

"Father, Mother, I'm back!"

After exchanging greetings, Leian looked at the two toddlers on the carpet, unable to stop a smile as he asked:

"Who are these?"

Although he had already guessed, Leian still wanted to confirm it for himself.

Barry chuckled, rubbing his hands together as he said, "These are your younger brother and sister, Allen and Bella!"

Hearing this, Leian couldn't help but give his old man a thumbs-up. The two children were similar in build and appearance; one look was enough to tell they were twins.

"Big, big cat!"

The two little ones had noticed Leian long ago, but they were clearly more interested in Selina, who was following behind him. By now, they were already stumbling toward her.

"Careful!"

Having lived in the Imperial Capital for over two years, Barry and Annie had broadened their horizons. They could tell at a glance that Selina was no ordinary house cat. The couple rushed forward, scooping up the two naughty little ones.

"Big cat, big cat..."

The two little ones were clearly unhappy about being held, struggling incessantly in their parents' arms while continuing to babble.

"Is this a Magic Beast you've tamed?"

Ignoring the little ones in his arms, Barry looked at Selina behind Leian and asked, somewhat uncertainly.

He had seen many Magic Beasts tamed by powerful figures in the Imperial Capital, and every one of them was tall, imposing, and fierce.

Compared to those beasts, the one before him, which looked like a house cat, seemed to have no deterrent power at all. Plus, it was so small that one couldn't even ride it; wouldn't it just invite ridicule if taken out?

Leian didn't know what Barry was thinking, but even if he did, he wouldn't find it strange. After all, the Phantom Magic Monkey was a relatively rare level-nine Magic Beast, and most people wouldn't recognize it—just like on the streets of the Imperial Capital earlier, where few had identified Selina's origin.

However, Leian had mainly tamed Selina to protect Barry and his wife. Seeing his father ask, he introduced her specifically:

"This is Selina. She is a Phantom Magic Monkey, a level-nine Magic Beast."

"A, a level-nine Magic Beast?"

Barry looked stunned, so shocked he nearly bit his tongue. After re-examining Selina, he seemed to recall something and suddenly stared at Leian, asking:

"Does that mean the newly emerged, powerful warrior who is rumored to have killed a Green-Eyed Horned Tiger with a single sword strike outside the Youquan Mountain Range is you?"

"It is."

Leian hadn't expected his father to bring this up, but he didn't hide it and admitted it directly.

"It really is you!"

Barry widened his eyes in excitement, his tone filled with awe. His ancestors had all been commoners; he never imagined that his generation would produce such a formidable son.

Killing a level-eight Magic Beast with one strike and successfully taming a level-nine Magic Beast—what kind of concept was that? In the past, he wouldn't have dared to dream of such things.

It took a long time for Barry and Annie to calm down from the shock. When they looked at Leian again, their eyes were filled with pride.

Barry held his little daughter Bella in one arm and draped his other arm over his eldest son Leian's shoulder, grinning as they walked into the house:

"Leian, do you know? Two years ago, when I first heard in a tavern in the Imperial Capital that the young warrior who killed a level-eight Green-Eyed Horned Tiger outside the Youquan Mountain Range was named Leian, I was very surprised, but I never dared to think it was you."

"Even later, when people mentioned that the young powerhouse carried two swords, one large and one small—especially that greatsword, which matched the size and shape of the one you used—I still didn't dare to confirm it."

"Until today, until today... when you told me yourself that it was you..."

As Barry spoke, he grew excited again. He looked as if he were drunk, his face flushed red with exhilaration.

For a long while, once Barry had calmed down again, he couldn't help but start pestering Leian about his experiences over the past two years.

Seeing that Barry was in high spirits, Leian didn't want to dampen the mood, so he picked out some of his experiences and observations from the Youquan Mountain Range and began to recount them slowly.

In the villa's living room, Annie and Aili sat nearby, listening silently.

Of the six family members, only the two youngest couldn't sit still, always wanting to go and touch the "big cat" they kept talking about.

Unfortunately, Selina had absolutely no interest in the two little ones and even deliberately jumped onto the roof to lie down and soak up the sun.

Although Leian was Selina's master, a level-nine Magic Beast had its own pride, and he didn't want to force Selina to act like a pet and play with his younger brother and sister.

Time passed bit by bit in idle chatter. Not long after the afternoon, the courtyard gate outside was knocked on once more.

Before long, Aili led a middle-aged knight inside.

"A Palace Knight!"

The moment Barry saw the golden armor on the middle-aged knight, he couldn't help but blurt it out. Having lived in the imperial capital for two years, he was all too familiar with this type of golden armor.

The word "Palace" was enough to explain this man's background.

However, this Palace Knight was remarkably humble; the moment he stepped into the hall, he bowed respectfully:

"Asheborn, Captain of the Holy Radiance Knights, greets Lord Leian, Mr. Barry, and Lady Annie."

The Byron Empire royal family possessed six knight orders in total. It was said that the knights in these six orders were at least level six warriors, and the captains were even level eight powerhouses. Their primary duty was to guard the imperial palace.

As the captain of the Holy Radiance Knights, Asheborn was undoubtedly a level eight powerhouse.

With such strength, combined with his status and position, Leian did not put on airs and said in a calm tone: "No need for such formalities. I wonder what brings you here?"

Asheborn remained as respectful as ever, replying:

"I have come on behalf of His Majesty. The Emperor wishes to meet with Lord Leian, and he wonders when you might be free."

As Asheborn stated his purpose, Barry and his wife were once again stunned. At this moment, they finally realized the status of a level nine warrior; for an emperor of a nation to want to see Leian, he actually had to consider the man's own wishes.

At this moment, Leian was unaware of what his parents were thinking. Otherwise, he would certainly have told them that the reason their son could receive such courteous treatment was only partly due to his status as a level nine warrior; the other part was absolutely inseparable from the Goddess Token.

Of course, the fact that the Emperor could send someone over so quickly was likely also thanks to Derrick.

Thinking of this, he had already made up his mind and said: "Since His Majesty has such a wish, I shall go to the palace to pay my respects tomorrow morning."

Seeing that Leian was so easy to talk to, a flash of surprise crossed Asheborn's eyes. However, he reacted quickly and immediately replied:

"Asheborn will certainly convey Lord Leian's message!"

With that, he took his leave.